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熏陶 (xūn táo) — to influence gradually through exposure to a positive environment; to nurture (through cultural/artistic immersion)

Definition

A figurative verb for being gradually shaped by a positive environment (music, culture, art) — not active training. Compare 陶冶 (refining character/taste) and 修养 (self-cultivation as a quality one has).

verb
to influence gradually through exposure to a positive environmentto nurture (through cultural/artistic immersion)

Examples

  • 熏陶，。
    Tā cóng xiǎo shòu yīn yuè de xūn táo, zhǎng dà hòu chéng le gāng qín jiā.
    He was nurtured by music from a young age and became a pianist when he grew up.
  • 熏陶，。
    Zài lǎo shī de xūn táo xià, tā biàn de hěn ài xué xí.
    Under the teacher's influence, he became very fond of studying.
  • 熏陶。
    Zhè zhǒng wén huà xūn táo duì tā de chéng zhǎng hěn yǒu bāng zhù.
    This kind of cultural nurture is very helpful for his growth.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

熏xūnsmoke
陶táomold

熏 (smoke) and 陶 (mold) both suggest gradual shaping by an environment.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 燻; 熏 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
熏
熏xūn燻xūn
Same sound today

In the traditional form 燻, 火 marks fire or smoke, and 熏 gives the sound; the modern 熏 is a shorter form.

Open 熏 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 阜阜fùmound of dirt
  • 勹勹bāotwo people
  • 土土tǔearth

The oldest 陶 paired 阜 (mound of dirt) with 勹 (two people) and 土 (earth), showing digging; the parts below 勹 later changed.

Open 陶 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

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